Peterborough woman arrested after serious Lyndeborough crash

LYNDEBOROUGH — A Peterborough woman and a Greenfield man and woman were seriously injured in a crash on Route 31 in Lyndeborough Wednesday afternoon.

Alcohol appears to be a factor, state police said in a Wednesday night news release.

Though seriously injured and hospitalized, driver Rebecca Rodenhiser, 38, of Peterborough has been charged with felony aggravated driving while under the influence, state police said.

Lyndeborough police along with fire and rescue personnel responded to Route 31 in the area of 47 Route 31 on Wednesday around 1:55 p.m. to find two vehicles in the middle of the road.

New Hampshire State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit were called to the scene due to the seriousness of the crash.

Rodenhiser had been driving a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse all-wheel drive. Rodenhiser sustained serious injuries in the collision and was taken to Catholic Medical Center in Manchester.

“She was eventually arrested at the hospital and charged with felony aggravated driving while under the influence,” state police said in the news release.

The other vehicle involved was identified as a 2005 Volvo S40 sedan, driven by Joanne Vandeusen, 67, of Greenfield. Vandeusen also sustained serious injuries in the collision and was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua.

A passenger in the Volvo was identified as Abou Sylla, 59, of Greenfield. He sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision and was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts by med-flight.

State police said based upon the initial on-scene investigation, it appears that the Chevrolet was traveling northbound on Route 31 when at the same time the Volvo was traveling southbound on Route 31.

In the area of 47 Route 31 the Chevrolet crossed over into the southbound lane and struck the Volvo head on, state police said.

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit was assisted on scene by members of the NH State Police-Troop B Barracks in Bedford, members of the Lyndeborough Police Department and the Lyndeborough Fire and Rescue Department.

Route 31 was closed for about 4 hours while the crash scene was investigated. State police said “it appears that alcohol is a factor in this crash, however all aspects remain under investigation.”

Police are asking any witnesses or anyone with more information about the collision contact Trooper Daniel Quartulli at 603-223-8993 or by email at daniel.quartulli@dos.nh.gov.